Dutch police arrest 4 over attack on Iranian embassy

ISTANBUL

Four people were arrested late Tuesday after an attack on the Iranian Embassy in The Hague, Dutch police said.

The incident occurred in the Scheveningen district, where several individuals targeted the embassy building and attempted to climb over its surrounding fence, according to local authorities, Dutch news agency NOS reported.

Police said there was little to no damage to the building and no injuries were reported.

The suspects were taken to a police station for questioning. Their identities have not been disclosed.

Iranian flag torn down at Berlin embassy

In Berlin, two demonstrators entered the Iranian embassy grounds on Tuesday evening and tore down the country's flag. They also unsuccessfully attempted to raise the Iranian flag with the emblem of the former monarchy, symbolized by the lion and sun.

Security personnel used pepper spray against the two men, who then left the embassy grounds. Berlin police officers temporarily detained them, along with four other demonstrators, on the sidewalk in front of the embassy, according to local media reports.

All were subsequently released at the scene.

Helsinki embassy vandalized by activists

In another incident, Finnish police detained two men on suspicion of vandalizing the Iranian Embassy in Helsinki, public broadcaster YLE reported.

Police said at least two people entered the embassy grounds in the upscale Kulosaari district in the western part of the capital, where they broke a flagpole, tore down the Iranian flag and sprayed graffiti on an exterior wall of the building.

Police said a decision on whether to formally arrest the suspects will be made after further questioning, adding that investigations are continuing to identify other individuals who may have been involved.

Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen on Tuesday summoned Iran’s ambassador, saying: “Iran’s regime has shut down the internet to be able to kill and oppress in silence.”

Finland’s Foreign Ministry said 91 Finnish citizens have registered their presence in Iran, while warning that arbitrary arrests of foreigners have increased in recent days.

According to official statistics, more than 12,000 Iranian-born people were living in Finland in 2024.

Iran has been experiencing widespread anti-government protests since last month, driven by severe economic deterioration and a historic collapse of the national currency.

Government officials have accused the US and Israel of backing the "riots" and "terrorism."

There are no official casualty figures, but the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA), a US-based rights group, estimates that the death toll has reached more than 2,000, including security forces and protesters, with over 1,000 injured.

HRANA also reported that at least 10,721 people have been detained in 585 locations nationwide, including 187 cities in all 31 provinces.

Iranian diplomatic missions in several countries have also been targeted in recent days in connection with the protests. Activists removed Iranian flags from embassies in London and Madrid, while in Canada’s capital Ottawa, protest materials and flags were hung at the Iranian embassy.

* Ayhan Simsek contributed to this report.